Finals Week 2

Prelim Finals

Grand Final

2017-09-30T04:30:00Z

Adelaide Crows

Richmond Tigers

Gary Ablett of the Suns leads his team out for warm up during the round 14 AFL match between the Hawthorn Hawks and the Gold Coast Suns at Aurora Stadium on June 26, 2016 in Launceston, Australia. (Photo by Quinn Rooney/Getty Images)

Suns chairman: ‘It’s a really good media beat up story’

Gold Coast chairman Tony Cohcrane says that while Gary Ablett is weighing up his future, under no circumstances will he be traded in 2018.

Cochrane has refused to entertain the idea that Ablett could be at another club in 2018, stating that he if he is not at the Suns, it would be because he would have walked away from the game completely.

Ablett announced on Tuesday evening that he would be stepping down as captain of the club in 2017 and that he is unsure if would play on beyond next season.

“Gary Ablett is an absolute 110 per cent required player at the football club,” Cochrane said on SEN radio on Wednesday morning.

“Gary wants to carry on with us, he is absolutely loved by his fellow players, loved by the coaches and certainly very, very appreciated by our head coach Rodney Eade.

“That’s not even something that the board has debated or will debate.

“I know it’s a really good media beat up story.

“The fact of the matter is what he’s saying is he just wants to assess how his year goes.”

Cochrane said that if Ablett suffers another injury this season, he will probably pull the pin on his career.

“He wants to make sure he can actually get through a complete year. I honestly think we’ve put an awful lot of effort — as has he — with his rehab and I think he’ll have a great year in a good head space.

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“But, you know, we do have to face up to the prospect that if he has another shocking year of injury I think he’s going to be lost to the game. Forget the Gold Coast Football Club. I think he’s going to be lost to the game.”

After playing 61 of 66 games in his first three seasons with the Suns, Ablett has managed just 35 out of a possible 66 games in the past three years.